Running a successful business: Hard work ethic, staying organized, and the right
tools.

By Darcy Warner

When I was young, my summers were filled working with my grandfather and father
on a wide range of jobs involving carpentry, farming, and mechanics. They taught
me that when you put in hard work, you get quality results. While it wasn't fun
at the time, those years instilled in me fundamental work ethics that help me run
my business today.

My name is Darcy Warner, I run a carpentry, remodeling, woodworking business. I've
been a carpenter for 12 years and most of my work is custom woodwork, onsite remodeling,
finish carpentry, built-ins and trim work. Needless to say, none of the jobs I do
are the same from one time to the next.

Doing totally custom work for my clients always brings a unique challenge, and I
try to perform each project better and faster than the previous one. Inevitably
you have to be shuffling tools from different job sites, so having the right tools
will help you get to the finished product quicker.

When choosing tools, I always look for durability and quality. That's why I buy
Festool tools -- because they hold up. The Systainer eliminates the effort I used
to waste searching for tools. It organizes my tools, allows me to pull a tool out,
use it for the task at hand, and put it back. No fiddling with supplies, buckets
holding tools, or other materials. All my tools are in place, organized, and easy
to access.

Festool's most recent update to the TS 55 is the
TS 55 REQ track saw. I've been using the TS 55 REQ on a number
of jobs from sheet goods, to straight-lining rough cut lumber, to putting in subflooring
and custom trim work. It's simple to use and the mobility of the saw lets you take
it into any indoor job site, so you don't have to take your material outdoors to
cut. You can just about eliminate a big job site table saw. With the accessories
that come with it, like different length guide rails, the CT dust extractor and
clamps, it makes previously hard tasks quick and easy. That way, I can spend time
focusing on the big picture of the project, rather than the small, individual tasks.

Festool makes products of heirloom quality and that's reflected in the work I do.
I've been using their tools for the last 6 years and they're always consistent,
durable, and most of all, accurate. Although they don't make everything, the tools
they do make are sure a heck of a lot better than anything else.

Did you notice the Festo?

In the video of Darcy Warner, there's a segment where he's in his shop running a
blue and green chain mortiser. That chain mortiser was made in the mid-1950s by
Festo, the previous name for Festool. This is a testament to the quality of our
tools and that they are built to last.

You can count on your Festool power tool being built for your toughest demands.
All of our power tools are covered by a standard three year warranty.

The right cut, every time.

By Jory Brigham

Woodworking is something I got into from an early age. My dad was a finish carpenter,
and I would go to work with him ever since I was little to learn the fundamentals
of woodwork through him. When I turned 18, I got my own shop, started buying my
own tools, and did work on my own.

My name is Jory Brigham, and I make custom furniture at Jory Brigham Design.

The most challenging projects always end up being my favorite projects. You put
yourself through the different aspects of the job from design to the build, and
let your creativity take over. It takes a lot of time to finish each piece of furniture,
but I love working on a project for two weeks and then moving on to another challenge.
It keeps things exciting. The one thing I’ve found that you can control is the tools
you use--and the longer you work in this trade, the more you see the value in using
versatile tools. Being able to count on a tool to do exactly what I need, every
time, is something I value very highly.

When I have a $150 sheet of plywood, I need a clean cut. The TS, along with the
guide rail and splinter guard, is what I depend on for that. The guide rail lets
me move the saw along with the contour, while the splinter guards makes the cut
clean. I just couldn’t do that with a table saw because it’s too hard to control
if I have a larger piece wood, and a normal skill saw will make the cut sloppy.
The TS makes a precise, clean cut and does things that I’ve never seen another tool
do, including my table saw. It has exceeded every expectation that I ever had of
a tool.

The only people you hear asking questions like "Is Festool worth it?" are those
who’ve never tried Festool tools. Since I started using Festool, they’ve made my
job easier and quicker. They’re tools that, after using once, I just couldn’t do
without. They set and consistently raise the standard for all tools, even ones that
Festool doesn’t make.

What can you do with Festool?

In this time lapse video, watch Jory construct a beautiful custom bed using an arsenal
of Festool power tools. It's a great example of how Festool can be integrated into
your next project.

Smallerizing it: a philosophy of quality artisanship.

Ben Riddering is a custom furniture designer and builder using mostly reclaimed materials. In this video, Ben describes how his passion and ideals for fine woodworking parallels those of Festool for power tools made to a higher standard.

At first, Ben was concerned that the price of Festool was high, but quickly realized after using his first Festool, the TS Track Saw, that the quality and versatility offered by Festool was uncompromising. He found that what Festool does with power tools is much like what he does as a producer of furniture. He builds furniture that's unique and made with high quality; choosing to work for those clients that prefer quality, rather than something that's mass produced.

With Festool, Ben is able to do things in his small shop without the use of large stationary equipment. He learned that a single Festool can replace multiple conventional power tools, allowing him to take the tool to the work rather than the materials to the tool. To quote Ben, he said, "If you show me a tool that performs well, saves time and takes up less space, now you've got my attention".

Increasing efficiency and profitability.

By Dan Rush, Professional Trim Carpenter in the Chicago area

Part of my summer time job was to paint walls and the local principal asked me if I wanted to paint his house. I said sure and while I was doing that he said, "well, can you fix that door", and all of a sudden I became a handyman. All throughout college, that paid for my way through school and I became a carpenter. I'm Dan Rush and I've been a trim carpenter for 25 years specializing in custom cabinet installations for the last 10 years.

My clients expect the very best. There can be no mistakes. It has to be right the first time. Right now, 95% of my work is on location. The new TS 55 REQ is a game changer. It changes your whole outlook on bringing the tool to the work as opposed to bringing the work to the tool. The TS 55 REQ really works for me when I cut down extended stiles when scribing to walls. What used to be a 20-25 minute task is now down to about 5 minutes. Multiplied by maybe 10 or 15 cuts per day, that's a huge time savings. Having the right tool every time, every day is truly the answer.

Because I am a site worker, I want to know what it's going to do for me onsite and count on it not letting me down in the middle of a project. For it to get the job done correctly and to get me home.

The accessory I use most with my saw is the rapid clamp. It allows me to affix the guide rail onto a cabinet box and accurately cut a scribe. The dust extraction is impeccable. It keeps the jobsite cleaner and keeps my customers happier, plus it really sets me apart from the other workers onsite.

I used to have to carry my tools in all of the different plastic cases that were all different sizes and shapes. Now, with Festool's Systainer and Sortainer system, everything is unified and very systematic so I can get in and out of jobs very quickly.

Festool has absolutely saved me time and that means profitability. More important to me is that it gets me home earlier. So, I'm not onsite for 10 hours a day and I can work a 6-7 hour day and still get the same amount of work done. I buy Festool power tools because they're built for contractors and to be used every day. I use my all the time, every day, and I've never had to send one in for service. They're not built to be trophies, they're built to be used.

The new TS 55 REQ.

Festool invented track saw technology nearly half a century ago and since then we've
continued to refine it. The newest incarnation of our saw is the TS 55 REQ, which
represents our most advanced track saw yet.

Track saw tutorials.

Mike Sloggatt has been in the construction industry since 1972 and
opened the doors to his remodeling company in 1979. After many years of learning
his craft, Mike has begun to share his knowledge with others.

You can read many of his articles in Publications such as the Journal of Light Construction,
Fine Homebuilding, LBM Journal, Tools of the Trade, Coastal Contractor and many
others.

Mike has also collaborated with Gary Katz and the Katz Roadshow
in recent years to continue to share his knowledge and expertise with professionals
around the country with live clinics.

In this video series, Mike covers several examples of how you might use a Festool
track saw in your shop or on the jobsite. As you can see in the videos, Mike is
working out of a small garage-based shop. He's able to process sheet goods in a
one-person operation and with limited space, something that wouldn't be nearly as
easy with a table saw.

Using a track saw to create tapered columns.

In this video, Mike demonstrates how easy it is to create a tapered porch column
quickly and easily using the Festool TS 55 REQ Track Saw. This method replaces the
need for custom table saw jigs and other unsafe or more difficult methods. The TS
55 REQ produces ultra-straight, splinter-free cuts in seconds without the need to
struggle with large sheet goods and a table saw. Mike completes assembly using the
Festool Domino joiner for quick, easy mortise and tenon joints.

Using a track saw to process sheet goods.

In this video, Mike walks us through using a track saw to break down plywood, MDF,
and other sheet goods. Using a track saw produces superior cut quality with no splintering
and prevents you from having to lift and run large sheets through a table saw which
can be awkward and presents safety concerns. With a track saw, multiple sheets can
be cut simultaneously, speeding the entire process. A track saw is a very versatile
tool and can be used for many applications beyond processing sheet goods.

Quickly ripping plywood with a track saw.

In this video, Mike demonstrates a quick, easy and safe method of ripping plywood
sheets down into equally sized panels or strips. This technique is well suited for
producing cabinetry components.

The parallel guides shown in this video are one of many Festool track saw system
components made to extend the capability of your Festool track saw. Only Festool
has such a complete range of accessories.

Trimming a door bottom with a track saw.

Produce exceptional results when trimming down doors by using a track saw. The guide
rail, or track, provides a quick and easy way to reference your scribe line and
the saw can be used to bevel the cut. In this video, you can also see that a track
saw, when used with a dust extractor, can allow you to work in a client's home without
concerns of dust and debris.

Beveling shelves with a track saw.

A track saw is a great solution for making complex bevel or miter cuts and offers
a better solution than a table saw. A track saw can also overcome the capacity issues
of making such cuts with a miter saw. The compact, lightweight design of a track
saw can also save valuable shop space and give you the ability to make these types
of cuts and others on the jobsite.

The Festool Plunge Cut Track Saw System.

What is a plunge cut
track saw and guide rail system? Some people would describe it as
a circular saw riding on an aluminum rail. This would be a gross understatement,
and would overlook the major advantages that a plunge cut track saw system offers.
Designed properly, a high-quality plunge cut track saw and guide rail system are precise
pieces of equipment, as well thought out as most stationary equipment. The combination
of a precision track
saw, and a guide rail will create a system that generates precision
cuts anywhere on a panel quickly and safely…cuts that should never be attempted
with a traditional circular saw.

The smooth pivoting action, and minimal blade exposure during the cut is ideal for
starting a cut in the middle of a panel. This design allows the blade to pivot into
the material smoothly and accurately. Precision cuts starting from any
point are easily accomplished. The track saw can be used for many common tasks: Ripping
sheet goods, creating straight edges on rough stock, jointing boards, cutting to
scribe lines on doors and cabinets, cross-cutting, and creating openings in panels,
sections of flooring, and cabinets.

Buy with confidence. Know that if you are not completely satisfied
with your Festool power tool purchase, you can return it to your place of purchase
for a full, no-questions-asked refund within 30 days. Festool
power tools are covered by a comprehensive three year warranty. Festool
manufactures its power tools at it's facilities in Germany to ensure the highest
level of quality.

Your only regret may be that you didn't buy a Festool track saw sooner.

The new TS 55 REQ.

Festool invented track saw technology nearly half a century ago and since then we've
continued to refine it. The newest incarnation of our saw is the TS 55 REQ, which
represents our most advanced track saw yet.